Machine and method for applying pressure to shoe bottoms



July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 422 July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 26, S. J. FINN MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1956 15 sheet's-sheet 5 A/Z/Z/VTUR July 26, 1938. s. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 5 fi -if 1 July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet B Fig 17 AVE/V7175.

July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 1s Sheets-Sheet 9 July 26, 1938. 5, J, FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet l0 July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 llrlllli S. J. FINN July 26, 1938.

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Nov. 4, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 NSF W July 26, 1938. 5. J. FINN 2,124,654

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE T0 SHOE ao'r'rous Filed Nov. 4, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented July 26, 1938 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BQTIDMS Sidney J. Finn, Beverly, Mass,

amignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Pa son, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 4, 1936, Serial No. 109,128

150 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes and is illustrated herein as embodied ina machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms.

5 Objects of the invention are to provide an improved machine for laying or cement attaching soles to shoe bottoms which will be adapted to operate on shoes of all shapes or sizes, to provide improved mechanism for positioning a sole and shoe relatively to each other bei'ore the sole is attached to the shoe, to provide improved means for relatively locating and supporting the heel portion of a sole and shoe before pressure is applied thereto, and to provide simplified and improved means for covering portions of an inflatable pressure-applying pad which are located outside the periphery 01' a shoe mounted thereon to prevent the pad from bending the edges of the sole excessively during the application of pressure to the shoe bottom. Further objects of the invention, as pointed out more particularly hereinafter, include the provision of improved arrangements for insuring that substantially the same pressure is applied to all shoes irrespective 26 of their shapes or sizes, the provision of improved means for locking the shoes in pressure receiving position in the machine and for automatically eflecting their release after pressure has been applied, and the provision of improved pressure- 30 applying means and mechanism for actuating and controlling said means. A still further object is to provide an improved method of cement attaching soles to shoes.

To the attainment of these objects and in ac- 35 cordance with one feature of the invention, the machine, as herein illustrated, is provided with an improved shoe receiving pad normally located in a substantially flat position. Means in the form of a hoiddown is provided for pressing the iorepart of a shoe firmly against the pad, thereby clamping the shoe on the pad and holding the shank and heel portions of the shoe away from the rear portion of the pad, and further means is provided 5 for effecting relative movement betwen the shoe and pad to bring the rear portion of the pad into operative engagement with the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom, thereby conforming the pad to the shoe bottom irrespective of the 50 size or shape of the shoe. As illustrated herein,

the means for pressing the iorepart of the shoe against the pad and the means for eifecting relative movement of the pad and shoe to bring them into engagement with each other are treadle oper- 5 ated and are arranged to be locked in operative positions prior to and during the pressure-applying operation.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, gages are provided on the pad for relatively positioning a sole and shoe thereon, these gages being constructed and arranged to iind the edge face of the sole placed loosely on the pad without moving the sole and thus to determine the position of the shoe relatively to the sole. The positioning gages, as illustrated herein, are aru ranged to move toward and from a sole on the pad in straight paths preferably located substantially at right angles to the edge face of the sole, and means is provided for locking the gages in their paths upon their engagement with the sole, the 15 last-named means being operated automatically by contact 0! the gages with the sole. Means is also provided for simultaneously operating the gages until each gage contacts with the edge of the sole and the illustrated arrangement is 20 adapted to permit the gage operating means to complete its operative movement after one or more of the gages have contacted the sole without interfering with the positions of the contacting gages.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention improved means is provided for engaging the heel portion of a sole and holding it against movement laterally oi the pad. Further means, acting in conjunction with the sole engaging means, is provided for finding the heel portion of the shoe clamped against the sole and for shifting the sole engaging means laterally of the shoe to move the rear portion of the sole into proper alinement with that portion of the shoe bottom. Since the shank and heel portions oi the shoe, as stated above, are spaced from the pad and the sole thereon by reason of the pressure applied to the i'orepart of the shoe, the rear portion of the sole will thus be moved into proper position rela- 40 tively to the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom while the rear portion of the sole is free from the weight of the shoe or from pressure applied to the shoe by an operator while the shoe is engaging the full length of the sole.

I'he shoe finding means, as herein illustrated, carries mechanism for engaging the last in the shoe and thereby supporting the heel portion oi the shoe against pressure from the pad. Further means is provided on the pad-supporting mechahim for maintaining the last engaging and shoe finding means when not operating in a predetermined position relatively to the pad and for returning them to such position after they have operated but permitting them to move out of this position when they are moved toward the sole and shoe on the pad, thereby permitting them to find the shoe and last irrespective of the position of the shoe widthwise of the pad and simultaneously to shift the sole laterally into proper alinement with the shoe bottom by cooperation with the sole gaging means. Means for locking the last engaging and supporting means and the shoe finding means in operative position is also provided so that after the pad has been conformed to the shoe bottom and pressure is to be applied to the shoe by inflation of the pad, the last and shoe will be rigidly supported to withstand the pressure.

The invention also provides, in accordance with still another feature, improved means for covering a portion of the pad located outside the periphery of the shoe bottom to prevent excessive bulging of such portion when the pad is inflated and thereby to prevent bending the edge of the sole too greatly during the pressing operation. As herein illustrated, the covering means comprises a mask plate arranged to overlie the forward portion of the pad and mounted for movement in a fixed path longitudinally of the pad to cause the mask plate to approach the edge of a shoe mounted thereon. Means for moving the mask plate toward and from the shoe comprises automatically operated connections between said mask plate and the holddown means for pressing the forepart of the shoe against the pad. Accordingly. when the forepart holddown means is actuated the mask plate is moved automatically toward or away from its operative position relatively to the shoe. The connecting means illustrated herein comprises a toggle which, when straightened, is arranged to move the mask plate toward its operative position. In order to locate the mask plate in a predetermined position relatively to each shoe operated upon irrespective of the size of the shoe, the toggle carries further mechanism including a finger arranged to engage the toe end of the sole as the mechanism is operated and to break the toggle, thereby causing the mask plate to cease its movement while the pressing means continues to move into engagement with the shoe. In returning the mask plate to inoperative position the toggle is first straightened automatically by reverse movement of the pressing means and then acts to retract the mask plate while simultaneously positioning itself for its next operative action. Further means carried by the toggle is also provided for automatically moving the finger away from the toe end of the sole after the toggle is broken so that there will be no chance of the flnger catching on the edge of the sole while the shoe is being removed from the machine and thereby pulling the sole away from the shoe bottom or weakening its attachment thereto.

In applying pressure to the shoe bottom the illustrated machine is arranged, in accordance with another feature of the invention, to produce substantially the same amount of roll or convexity on the outsoles of all shoes irrespective of their sizes or shapes. This is accomplished, as herein illustrated, by making the chamber in the inflatable pad relatively shallow so that when deflated its opposite walls will contact with each other to form a relatively unyielding shoe receiving layer or wall. The sole and shoe are pressed against this unyielding wall and the mask plate is moved into a predetermined position relatively to the shoe to leave the same amount of pad surface exposed between the mask plate and the shoe bottom for each shoe operated upon irrespective of its size. The pad is then inflated to apply a predetermined pressure to the shoe bottom. the amount of this pressure being controlled automatically by pressure regulating means associated with the inflating means, so that the pressure is the same for each shoe operated upon and the bulge at the exposed portions of the pad is likewise substantially the same. Since each shoe is located in substantially the same plane relatively to the mask plate, and since the mask plate is positioned the same distance from each shoe, the inflation of the pad the same amount for each shoe will curve or roll the marginal portions of the outsole the same amount toward the shoe upper thereby producing substantially the same convexity on the shoe bottom irrespective of the size of the shoe. Preferably, and as illustrated herein, the inflatable pad is covered by a solid pad of flexible material having means at its forepart for reducing its compressibility a substantial amount to protect the inflatable pad and also to prevent too great a roll or curvature being imparted to the forepart of the shoe bottom.

In order to operate successively on right and left shoes, the illustrated machine is provided with two operating stations located side by side and each having a complete set of operating mechanism associated therewith. both sets of operating mechanism being of substantially the same construction except that the parts are reversed with respect to each other. After one station is loaded with a right or left shoe as the case may be and pressure is being applied to the sole and shoe, the other station is loaded with the proper shoe preparatory to applying pressure thereto. Since the shoe in the first station will be ready to be released when pressure is to be applied to the shoe in the second station, thereby to permit another sole and shoe to be mounted in said first station without loss of time by the operator, the machine is provided, in accordance with still another feature of the invention, with means for automatically releasing the sole and shoe in either station through the operation of mechanism on the opposite station when the latter station is ready to apply pressure to the sole and shoe mounted therein. As herein illustrated, the automatic releasing means is operated when the operator actuates the pad inflating means in the station which is to apply pressure and is opposite that which is to be released and this releasing means acts first to cause the pressure to be relieved in the pad on the station being released and thereafter to unlock the pressing means which is holding the forepart of the shoe against the pad. After the pressing means is unlocked, tension on further mechanism associated with this same releasing station is relieved to cause means associated with such mechanism to release the last engaging and heel supporting member which, as stated above, carries the shoe finding means. This mechanism is then permitted to return of its own weight to its inoperative position. Thereafter, the pad conforming and supporting mechanism for this releasing station is automatically unlocked to permit the rear portion of the pad to return to its initial flat position, thereby leaving the shoe free to be removed from the pad.

As indicated above, the forepart holddown for pressing the shoe against the pad is locked in operative position and the locking means therefor is operated automatically by movement of the holddown or pressing means toward the shoe. Other features of the invention comprise the provision of improved means for unlocking the sole and shoe gages and returning them positively to inoperative position before the pad associated therewith is inflated, the provision oi improved treadle constructions whereby one treadle may be utilized first to operate the pressing means or iorepart holddown and thereaiter to operate the pad conforming means and the inflating mechanism in proper timed relation to each other.

Improved fluid pressure controlling means is also provided on the machine, this means being constructed and arranged, in accordance with still another feature of the invention, to admit fluid under pressure to the pad on one station while permitting the pad at the other station to exhaust. As herein illustrated, means operated by the holddown and pad conforming treadle is constructed and arranged, during operation of that treadle in moving the rear portion of the pad into operative relation to the shoe bottom, to set or position this pressure controlling means so that the pad which is next to apply pressure to a sole and shoe will be inflated by the operation of the inflating mechanism and also so that the pad which is-then applying pressure to a sole and shoe will exhaust, this exhausting action taking place immediately upon the positioning of the controlling mechanism and thereby preparing the exhausting station for the release of the shoe therein. The inflating action of the other pad, however, is postponed until, through further depression of the same treadle, pad inflating means located at the rear of the machine is actuated, this treadle movement simultaneously operating the automatic release mechanism in the opposite station as explained above.

In accordance with a further important feature of the invention, pad inflating means at the rear 01' the machine is actuated and automatically controlledby mechanism including a valve normally arranged to prevent fluid under pressure from passing into either of the pads but adapted to be actuated at the proper time to cause fluid to pass into one oi. the pads. As herein illustrated, the valve is moved to open or close a conduit or pipe line leading from a common source of supply to each of the pads. When the pipe line is open the fluid is returned to a reservoir from which it was taken and, when the pipe line is closed by the valve, the fluid passes under pressure into that pad which is next to apply pressure to the shoe bottom, this pad being determined by the position the fluid pressure controlling mechanism which has been previously set. as explained above. The pad in flating means. as illustrated herein, is actuated by the last part of the operation of the holddown treadle but the operation oi said means is terminated automatically after the pressure in the pad reaches a predetermined amount. As illustrated, the operation of the inflating mechanism is stopped indirectly by the action 0! the pressure regulator referred to and which automatically controls the pressure in the pad. When the required pressure is attained, the regulator permits additional fluid pumped from the reservoir to pass through an opening in the regulator into a container carried by a pivoted lever which is so positioned and arranged that, when the weight of the fluid in the container overcomes the weight of the lever the latter swings about its pivot to operate further mechanism which actuates the valve and thus opens the pipe line to empty further fluid into the supply reservoir. In this way each pad is inflated to a predetermined pressure and the operation of the inflating mechanism is stopped automatically so that the mechanism must be actuated again manually before the pad in the other station can be inflated.

In its method aspect the invention provides an improved process of cement attaching soles to shoes which comprises locating a sole relatively to a shoe bottom, applying pressure to the loreparts oi the sole and shoe while holding the shank and heel portions of the sole away from the shoe bottom, and then moving the shank and heel portions of the sole into engagement with corresponding portions oi the shoe bottom thereby laying the sole and applying pressure to it and the shoe progressively throughout the shank and heel portions.

The above and other objects and features oi the invention, including also various other novel combinations and arrangements 0! parts, will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevation of the machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one set oi. sole and shoe positioning mechanism for engaging the sole and shoe at the ball line, a portion of the mechanism being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view of the positioning mechanism shown in Fig. 2 as viewed from the back or the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale oi one of the pressure-applying units or the machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of mechanism for operating a mask plate on the pressure-applying unit;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 with the mechanism in an operative position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper end of a member which supports the rear portion of the pressure-applying mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the forepart of a pad on the pressure-applying mechanism and mechanism supporting the pad, the upper portion of the mechanism being broken away;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in perspective and longitudinal section through the central portion of the pad-supporting members which form the pad box;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the forepart of the pad box showing the sole and shoe-positioning mechanism engaging a sole and shoe;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view through the forepart oi the pad box illustrating the arrangement for inflating the inflatable pad;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the lower side of the heel portion or an upper pad which engages the soles;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side elevation of an upper portion of the machine after parts of the mechanism have been operated;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of mechanism for locking the forepart holddown member which is illustrated more iully in Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a portion of mechanism for operating the sole and shoepositioning mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the treadle mechanism oi! one of the operating stations in a normal or inoperative position;

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of one of the treadles shown in Fig. 1'! in a depressed position;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of mechanism located at the left-hand side of Fig. 17 for providing a yield for further mechanism illustrated in that figure;

Fig. 20 is a detail view, partly broken away and in section, illustrating mechanism for relatively positioning and supporting the heel portions of a sole and shoe on the pad, the mechanism being viewed directly from above Fig. 21 is a side view partly in section of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 20:

Fig. 22 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line XIHI-XXII of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line XXIII-XXIII of Fig. 20;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the rear portion of the treadle mechanism:

Fig. 25 is a plan view of the treadle mechanism with parts broken off;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of part of the treadle mechanism shown in Fig. 25 after the mechanism has been partially operated;

Fig. 27 is a front elevation, partly broken away and in section, of valve mechanism for controlling the inilation of the pads;

Fig. 28 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 17 of a portion of the treadle mechanism and mechanism operated thereby with the treadle depressed;

Fig. 29 is a perspective view of treadle-operated mechanism for positioning the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 27:

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of a portion of the valve positioning mechanism, as viewed from a difl'erent angle;

Fig. 31 is a perspective view of a pump and additional valve mechanism which supplies fluid under pressure to the inflatable pads;

Fig. 32 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 31; and

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary sectional view of a member which automatically stops the operation oi the valve mechanism.

The machine comprises a base l0 and an upstanding frame I! the upper end of which slants downwardly toward the front of the machine at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal and carries at its opposite sides pad-supporting members or boxes l4, l8 each provided with a relatively solid pad l0 and 20 the heel portions of which are toward the operator, as shown in Fig. 1, the pads being adapted to operate respectively on right and left shoes regardless of their sizes or shapes. Since the pads are located at an angle of 45 to the horizontal their entire shoeengaging surfaces may be readily seen by the operator as he stands at the front of the machine in position to mount a shoe on either pad. The pad-supporting members l4, l6 and the mechanism associated therewith comprise rightand left-hand pressure-applying stations which are substantially identical in construction except that the mechanisms are reversed relatively to each other. Accordingly, only the mechanism on the right-hand station of the machine has been illustrated in detail and the description will be confined to that station, it being understood that the opposite station is of substantially the same construction.

The pad II and pad supporing mechanism i4 of the right-hand station are best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. The pad-supporting mechanism or pad box comprises a casting 22 bolted to the upper end of the frame I! and having an upstanding wall 24 on its inner end and side portions which provides a recess for receiving the forepart of the pad i8. On its lower side the casting 22 has a cylindrical projection 26 (Figs. 5 and 12) into which is threaded a flexible hose 20 which communicates with a chamber 30 (Fig. 12) provided with an opening 32 in which is mounted a bushing 34 having a flange 35 (Fig. 5) at its upper end between which and the casting the lower wall of an inflatable pad 40 is clamped, the bushing 34 having holes 36 at its lower portion for admitting fluid under pressure to the pad and being clamped in position by a screw 38 threaded into its lower end.

The pressure-applying pad comprises the solid upper pad IB and the lower inflatable pad 40 preferably of rubber and conforming substantially in outline to the periphery of the shoe bottom but being large enough for the largest shoe which is to be operated upon. The inflatable pad 40 has a shallow chamber 42 which is normally collapsed by the weight of the upper pad, as shown in Fig. 5, but which may be expanded by fluid pressure to a considerable height in applying pressure to a shoe bottom. The solid pad III has a portion of relatively thick rubber for engaging the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom and molded to conform approximately to the shape of such portions. This thick portion of the pad is provided at its periphery with a downwardly extending flange 44 which forms a recess or pocket in which the outer or heel portion of the inflatable pad 40 may be conveniently located. The lower surface of the heel. portion of the solid pad I0 is provided with a stiffening member or plate 45 (Fig. 13) preferably of metal for maintaining this portion of the pad il in a substantially flat position even under substantial pressure.

The forepart portion of the upper or soleengaglng pad I! is considerably thicker than its heel portion and is preferably provided with a plurality of substantially rectangular compartments or cells 48 filled with relatively fluent material such as sand which becomes rigid or "set" under pressure, thereby rendering the forepart of the pad I relatively inflexible so that the marginal portions of its upper surface will not bulge excessively when pressure is applied and thus cause the marginal portions of the forepart of the sole to become too greatly rounded. The construction of the forepart of the pad ll may be substantially the same as the pad disclosed in Patent N 2,064,900 granted December 22, 1936 on my application and reference may be had to that patent for a more detailed description thereof. It will be noted, however, that initially the upper or shoe engaging surface of the pad It lies in a substantially flat plane, this plane being located at about 45 to the horizontal. Consequently, except for the molded portion at the shank, the exposed surface of the pad is relatively flat from one end to the other.

At their forward portions the opposite side walls 24 of the pad supporting member 22 are recessed, as shown at 50 in Fig. 10, to receive onposite side portions of a central pad supporting member I! which is pivoted to the walls by pins 54 (only one of which is shown in Figs. 5 and 10) and which underlies the central portions of the pads II and 40 and is strengthened by a transverse rib 88. The intermediate member 82 is pivotally connected by pivot pins 88. to a forward or heel supporting section 88 provided with an upstanding wall 82 within which the heel portions of the pads are located. The space between the pad-supporting members 22 and I2 is covered by a thin plate 84 pivoted on a pin 88 secured in the supporting member 22, the portion of the plate which extends forwardly toward the operator resting in a recess 88 formed in the intermediate member 82. The space between the members 82 and 88 is covered by a relatively thick piece of flexible material 18, such as leather, the marginal portion 12 of which is tapered to prevent cutting the lower pad.

The pad supporting sections 82, 88 of the pad box extend outward and downwardly at about 45 from the stationary member 22 and means is provided for supporting these members in their inclined position and for moving them relatively to the member 22 to conform the pads I8, 48 to the shank and heel portions of the bottom of a shoe to which pressure is to be applied. The means for supporting the rear sections of the pad box comprises a yoked member I4 (Fig. 5) pivoted to the frame I2 on pins I8 and having opposite side arms which normally extend downwardly and forwardly at about 45 to the horizontal. At its lower end the yoked member I4 has a projection or lip 18 arranged to engage an adjustable block 88 slidably mounted on the upper end of a pad supporting bar 82 which is operated as hereinafter described to move the rear pad supporting sections toward the shoe to lay the pad and the sole thereon against the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom. The block 88 has a T-slot 84 (Fig. 8) whereby it is slidabiy mounted on the upper end of the bar 82 and stop pins 88 are provided for limiting the sliding movement of the block. The righthand portion of the block 88 (as viewed in Fig. 8) projects upwardly and has a surface or guideway .88 thereon for engaging the projection I8 and supporting the arms I4 in a relatively high initial position when operating on shoes having deeply arched shank portions and the block also has a lower surface 88 at its left-hand side for supporting the arms I4 in a lower position when operating on shoes having relatively flat l bottoms. The stop pins 88 serve to locate these surfaces under the projection I8. The construction and operation of the pad supporting bar 82 and the mechanism associated therewith will be explained hereinafter in connection with the operation of moving the movable sections of the pad box into operative position relatively to the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom.

The heel supporting section 88 of the pad box is provided at its inner end with a transverse pin 82 to the opposite ends of which are pivotally secured downwardly extending links 84, the lower ends of these links being pivotally connected to the opposite arms of the yoked member I4 by a transverse pin 88. The links 84 support the inner end of the heel section 88 and also permit longitudinal movementpf that section relatively to the arm I4 during the padconforming operation.

Inside the links 84 the pin 82 has secured thereto a pair of forwardly inclined arms 88, only one of which is shown in Figs. 5 and "I. At their lower ends the arms 88 are connected together by a transverse pin I88 having mounted on its opposite ends, adjacent to arms 88, light torsion springs I82 each of which is hooked under an arm 88 and the other ends of which extend upwardly (Fig. 20) and are hooked into projections I88 formed on the under side of a relatively thin U- shaped plate I84 overlying the heel portion of the pad and mounted for sliding movement longitudinally thereof.

The forward portion of the heel supporting section 88 projects downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, and is provided with a flat surface I88 of substantial width for engaging different surfaces formed on a rectangular block I88 rotatably mounted between the opposite arms of the yoked member I4 on a pin H8. The block I88 is eccentric on the pin II8 so that each surface is located a different distance from the axis of the pin. The block can be rotated manually on the pin to position its different surfaces for cheesement with the flat surface I88, there being sufficient friction between the block and pin to hold the block in any position into which it is moved. The block I88 provides a further means for initially positioning the heel supporting section 88 of the pad box relatively to the arm I4 for accommodating shoes having heels of different heights.

The upper surface of the side wall 82 of the heel section 88 has fastened thereto by screws II2 a fixed pad confining plate I i 4 (Figs. 1 and 5), the rear and side portions of which project forwardly beyond the section 88 and the inner edge of which conforms substantially to the periphery of the heel portion of a shoe and overlaps the margin of the pad l8, thereby retaining the pad in the section 88. The opposite side walls of the shank supporting section 82 likewise have secured thereto by screws a pair of pad confining plates H8 (Fig. l) which also overlie the marginal portions of the pad and retain it in the member 82. The plate I84 is slidably mounted on the upper surface of the plate III by means of downwardly hooked portions 5 (Fig. 28) which overlap the opposite edges of the fixed plate H4 and carry the projections I88 to which the springs I82 are secured. The inner edge of the plate I84 likewise conforms to the heel portion of a shoe. except that it is considerably larger.

The slide plate I84 has formed integrally with its forward portion a transverse tongue I I8 (Figs. 5 and 28) upon which is adjustably mounted a carrier member I I8 held in position by screws I28 located in countersunk slots I22 (Fig. 23) and bearing on washers I24 which overlap shoulders on the countersunk slots, thereby preventing the member I I8 from being lifted off the tongue while permitting its adjustment transversely of the pad. At its opposite sides the carrier member H8 is provided with upstanding lugs I28 between which is pivotally mounted on pins I28 a sole-locating tongue or finger I88 riveted to a plate I82 the opposite ends of which project upwardly and encircle the pins. The left-hand portion of the plate I82, as viewed in Fig. 28, has an arm I84 projecting laterally therefrom and between this am and the plate I84 is secured a spring I88 arranged to move past the center of the pivot I28 as the tongue is swung about said pivot and thereby to hold the tongue either in its operative position against the pad or in an elevated position determined by a stop pin I81 mounted in the boss I 28 and arranged to engage the arm I84.

The sole locating tongue I88 extends inwardly over the heel portion of the pad and is provided at its inner end with a short pin I88 which is perpendicular to the tongue and is arranged to enter a hole in the heel portion of the sole and thereby to position said portion transversely of the pad. The sole is positioned longitudinally of the pad by movement of the slide plate I04 forwardly and rearwardly by the operator when mounting the sole thereon, the light torsion springs I02 referred to above serving to hold the plate and tongue in position on the section and preventing them when not in use from sliding of! the forward end of the section 00 which is normally inclined at an angle of 45 to the horizontal.

The tongue I30 is adjusted laterally of the pad by an eccentric adjusting member I40 (Figs. 20 and 22) having a frusto-conical portion I42 rotatably mounted in the carrier member I I0 and having a pin 144 projecting from the edge of its lower surface into a transverse slot I40 in the slide plate I04. The member I42 is provided with a handle I43 whereby it can be rotated in the carrier member to move the slide plate I04 transversely of the pad along the tongue I I 0 and thereby to adjust the tongue I30 laterally of the pad. A compression spring I00 mounted in a hole in the frusto-conical portion of the adjusting member and bearing against a plate I02 provides sumcient friction for holding the member I42 in any adjusted position. In use the operator lifts the tongue I00 away from the pad, lays a sole on the pad and inserts the pin I30 in the hole in the heel portion of the sole. He then lets the tongue drop under the influence of the spring I30 to press the sole lightly against the pad. If the tongue does not originally locate the sole in a relatively central position the operator then adjusts it into such position by the handle I40.

The pad supporting section 22 has secured to its upper surface by screws I03 a thick cover plate I04 (Figs. 1, 4 and 11) and a relatively thin fixed mask plate I00, the inner portion of which engages the marginal portion of the pad I0 and confines it in the member 22. The inner edge faces of the cover plate I04 and the fixed mask plate I00 conform substantially to the contour of the forepart of a shoe bottom and the cover plate IE4 is cut away on its lower side, as shown at I00 in Fig. 11, to provide a recess for a movable mask plate I00. The construction and operation of the movable mask plate will be described more fully hereinafter.

The thick cover plate I04 is provided on its upper surface with four upstanding projections I02 (Fig. 1) which are slotted lengthwise to provide T-shaped guideways IOI (Figs. 2 and 3) for individual sets of sole and shoe positioning mechanisms or gages I04 arranged to slide in the guideways toward and away from a sole and shoe mounted on the pad. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the forward sets of gage mechanisms are located substantially opposite the ball line of a shoe mounted on the pad and the rear gages are arranged to move toward the shoe at such angles that they will engage the latter at about the tip line. Except for some differences in dimensions the construction of each set of gages is substantially the same and, accordingly, only one set has been illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 2, each set of gages comprises a lower or sole engaging member or feeler I00 which rides freely in the guideway IOI and has secured to its upper side by screws I01 a thick plate I00 which is slotted longitudinally at I to receive a shoe-engaging member or gage I12 which is adjustable relatively to the feeler I00. The gage I12 is slotted where the screws I01 pass through to-permit its adjustment relatively to the sole gage I00. The sole gage I 00 has a relatively narrow forward edge for finding the edge face of a thin sole on the pad and is arranged to rest lightly on the surface of the pad. The shoe gage I12 has a relatively wide work-engaging surface for engaging the side portion of the shoe upper at the forepart of the shoe. The shoe gage may be adjusted longitudinally of the sole gage or feeler I00 by an eccentric adjusting member I14 similar to the member I40 for adjusting the sole locating tongue I30, a spring being provided, as described above, for creating sufficient friction between the parts to hold the adjusting member in any adjusted position.

At its rear portion the confining plate I00 is cut away on one side (Fig. 2) and carries a transverse pin I10 which has a square head I10 (Fig. 3) that rides in one side of the T-shaped guideway IOI. The pin I10 has a bearing near its opposite end in a thin rectangular plate I00 which also rides in the guideway and thus supports the pin in a horizontal position. At its forward end, as viewed in Fig. 2, the pin I10 has pivotaliy mounted thereon an upwardly extending arm I02 having a laterally projecting cam I04 on its lower portion adjacent to its pivot and in position to engage a hardened steel plate I00 secured to an upper side of the T-shaped guideway IOI. When the arm I02 is in the rearwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 2, the cam I 04 is free from engagement with the plate I00 and the gage members can slide freely in the guideway toward or from the shoe. When the cam is rotated forwardly or toward the left in Fig. 2 the surface thereon binds against the plate I06 and clamps the gages against further sliding movement in the guideway.

At its upper end the arm I02 is pivotally connected by a link I00 to an upwardly extending arm I00 of a bell-crank lever I02 pivotaliy mounted on a pin I04 (Fig. 11) extending through ears I00 on a bracket secured by screws to the lower side of the pad supporting section 22. A light tension spring I00 extends between the arm I02 and the arm I00 of the bell-crank lever and tends to maintain the arm I02 inclined rearwardly against a stop pin I00 (Figs. 3 and 11) so that the cam I04 is not engaging the guideway IOI and the gages are normally free to slide therein. Accordingly, when one of the bell-crank levers I02, for example, the right-hand lever as viewed in Fig. 11, is swung in a counterclockwise direction the gage members I00, I12 will slide forwardly as a unit until the sole gage I00 contacts with the edge face of a sole on the pad. Thereupon forward movement of both gage members is arrested and continued movement of the bell-crank lever will rotate the arm I02 away from the stop pin I00 and force the rounded surface of the cam I 04 against the plate I00 on the upper side of the guideway I0! and thus loci: the gages ag'ainst further movement. In this way the sole gages of each set are brought inwardly yieldingiy to find the opposite edge faces of the sole resting loosely on the pad and the shoe gages, which have been previously adjusted relatively to the sole gages, are located properly and locked to position the shoe relatively to the sole. Reverse movement of the bell-crank lever I02 will first release the cam I04 and then positively return the gages to their initial positions away from the shoe bottom. As stated above, the gages are not confined heightwise in the guideways but are free to ride over the surface of the pad during their operative movement.

All four of the individual sets of gage mechanisms I84 are connected to bell-crank levers I02 in the manner indicated above, and these levers are actuated simultaneously to move the gages toward and from operative position by two arms 200 (Figs. 4 and i6) fixed to a shaft 202 rotatably mounted in a boss on the right-hand wall of the frame, the arms extending upwardly and rearwardly at opposite sides of this wall. Each arm 200 (Fig. 16) is provided with bosses 204 having tapered sockets 205 into the lower ends of which extend screws 200. Resting loosely against the upper ends of the screws are upwardly extending rods 200 the'upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the lower arms of the bell-crank levers I92 (Fig. 11). The screws 206 provide means for varying the initial positions of the bell-crank levers to position the sole and shoe gages relatively to each other in accordance with the shape of the shoe to be operated upon. Each rod 208 is normally maintained in engagement with the end of its screw 205 by a tension spring 2|0 connected to the arm 200 and to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever I92. This arrangement causes the arms 200, when rotated with the shaft 202 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to swing the bell-crank levers through the action of the springs H and thereby to move the gages yieldingly toward the sole on the pad. When the sole gages I66 contact with the edge faces of the sole and are locked, further movement of the arms 200 stretches the springs 2l0 and causes the rods 208 to leave the screws 20B, thereby permitting the arms 200 to be swung a predetermined distance for every sole and shoe. In returning the gages, reverse movement of the arms 200 permits the springs 2l0 to contract, thereby bringing the rods 208 into engagement with the screws 200 after which the bell-crank levers I92 swing outwardly to move the gage mechanisms positively into inoperative positions.

The particular type of gage mechanism disclosed herein is especially advantageous when operating on relatively thin soles. The tension spring I98 is so light that the gages are very sensitive and very little resistance of the sole on the gages I66 will cause them to become locked almost instantly, thereby insuring accuracy in operation and preventing rolling or curling of the edges of the sole margins. Moreover, the guideways IGI (Fig. 2) are integral with the fixed cover plate I54 so that the gages are relatively close to the points of contact with the sole thereby tending to eliminate springing oi the gage members when the shoe is inserted between the locked shoe gages as might happen if the gages were unconfined and free to be wedged apart. Another advantage is the manner of locking the gages by the cam I84 since it will be readily seen that any increased pressure on the front ends of the gages as, for example, by introducing the shoe between them, will tend to lock the gages even more firmly in the guideways. The positive retraction of the gages. which takes place before hydraulic pressure is applied as will be later explained, eliminates any danger of scarring the shoe upper during the pressure-app ing operation.

The arms 200 for the right-hand unit [4 of the machine are swung about their axis 202 to move the gages against the sole by a cam 212 (Figs. 4 and 16) pivoted on a pin 2 mounted in the inner side of the portion of the frame l2 which supports the right-hand unit II. The cam 2l2 has an integral arm Ill projecting downwardly therefrom and this arm is pivotally connected to a treadle rod 2|! which, in turn, is pivotally connected at its lower end by a pin 2i0 (Figs. 1 and 18) to an upwardly extending arm 220 formed on a gage operating treadle 222. The inner arm 200 (Fig. 16) is provided at its central portion with a roll 224 which rides on the lower surface of the cam 212 and is held against the cam by a relatively heavy spring 220 connected at one end to the arm 200 and at its other end to a pin 22!! projecting outwardly from the pivot 16 o! the yoked arm 14. The treadle 222 is pivoted on a shaft 220 which extends across the full width of the machine and forms the pivot for various other mechanisms later to be described. Depression of the gage treadle 222 rotates the cam M2 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 16, to move the high part of the cam against the roll 224. This swings the arms 200 downwardly about their axis 202 and thereby operates the mechanism described above and moves the four sets of gage mechanisms simultaneously toward the sole on the pad.

Since the gage mechanisms become locked upon engagement with the edge face of the sole and are maintained in locked position until after a shoe has been mounted on the sole and supported thereon by further mechanism hereinafter to be described, it is necessary that the gage treadle 222 be maintained in a depressed position until the operations referred to have been completed. Accordingly, means is provided for automatically locking the gage treadle in its depressed position after it has brought the gage mechanisms into engagement with the sole. This means comprises a bell-crank lever 23! (Fig. 18) pivoted to the gage treadle on a pin 232 and having a forwardly extending arm in position to be engaged by the operators foot. An upwardly extending arm 234 of the bell-crank lever is pivotally connected to a rearwardly extending link 230 the inner end of which is pivotally connected to a downwardly projecting lever 230 fulcrumed on a pin 240 mounted in a projection 242 extending rearwardly from the pivot 230 of the gage treadle. The lower end of the lever 238 carries a pin 245 adapted to ride over and engage the upper end of a screw 244 mounted in a boss in the base of the machine when the treadle is depressed to its lowest position. A tension spring 240, connected to the treadle and to the upper arm 234 of the bell-crank lever 2, tends normally to urge that lever in a counterclockwise direction. as viewed in Fig. 18. and thus to rotate the lever 238 in the same direction about its fulcrum 240 to cause the pin 245 to snap over the screw 244 when the treadle is depressed.

If it is desired to release the gage treadle 222 in order to retract the gages from the sole before the shoe is mounted thereon, the operator may do so by depressing the forward arm of the bell-crank lever 23l which will remove the pin 245 from the top of the screw 244 and thus permit the gage treadle to return to its elevated position. In the normal operation of the machine, however, release of the gage treadle 222 is effected automatically at a predetermined time in the cycle of the machine by mechanism hereinafter to be described.

The open or retracted position of all the gage mechanisms I04 is determined by a fixed stop 240 (Figs. 1, 4 and in the form of a curved bar screwed to the rear portion of the cover plate 

